WELL, my first column in my capacity as Nifco MD…

It is really exciting to have been given this platform – and fantastic to be able to share my thoughts each month, and to have the opportunity to provide some insight into the busy world of Nifco.

It’s been a tremendous six months for Nifco. So far, 2015 has seen us beat off tough competition to win the largest contract in our history – a £50million deal with Ford. It has seen us add to our number significantly, once again, as we carry on with our rapid expansion. And it has seen us ramp up our search for a third Nifco factory, something we are hoping to progress with over the coming months.

The growth Nifco has enjoyed is hugely exciting for me personally, and for the whole team at Nifco. It’s not been an easy road, and the starting point when I took over as MD in 2007 was actually a pretty tough one. We were at real risk of closure, with poor results and a facility that was no longer fit for purpose – the future looked bleak.

Fast forward to now, and the future is anything but that. Bright… Exciting.

So what has been the secret to this success?

In times of adversity, instinct often tells you to batten down the hatches. Occasionally in business though, the key is to be bold. To recognise when you have potential that is untapped and to exploit it. And for us, the turnaround came about when we started to invest – when we began to be brave. To think big. We invested in relationships. We invested in our people. We invested in our facilities.

While I would not generally advocate going against instinct and intuition, it is vital that – as leaders – we do not let opportunities pass us by, because we are too afraid to act. Measured, calculated investments can be the difference between failure and success. For Nifco, they’ve been a catalyst for growth. They say that you get out what you put in. And for us, the hard work and financial backing has absolutely paid off. We have got back what we put in – and more.

Mike Matthews is MD of Nifco at Eaglescliffe, near Stockton.